“For it is in giving that we receive.” – St. Francis of Assissi
It was more than 20 years ago when Steve Lopez (may he rest in peace) founded the PGH Adopt-A-Child-Program. Over the years, it has transformed until its current form as the Hospital Ministry supporting the Philippine General Hospital, Rizal Medical Center, and Our Lady of Porziuncola Hospital.
It is our privilege to bring the love of God and the love of San Antonio parishioners to the indigent patients of the aforementioned 3 hospitals. The Hospital Ministry members have become a channel through which patients and their watchers are able to feel the love of God in a very concrete way: Through our weekly visits, we extend medical assistance in cases where the patients cannot afford to buy medicines or antibiotics, nor go through much needed diagnostic tests for lack of funds. We are also able to extend Pastoral Care Service–listening to the concerns of the patients and relatives. We sometimes provide non-medical assistance, providing food for the watcher when necessary and transportation money for home conduction of discharged patients who are invalid and with no watcher.
Though the procedure may vary per hospital, the patients are pre-screened by the doctors and social workers to ensure that the patient is qualified. The background of the patient and family is provided, along with a picture. After scrutinizing the prescriptions, we procure the medicines from the pharmacy, and then deliver it directly to the patient. We walk an extra mile to ensure that your donation goes to the proper person and that not a centavo is wasted.
Aside from these regular visits, we have a variety of activities throughout the year – such as the healing mass, Stations of the Cross, Flores de Mayo, art contests, field trips, Christmas gift giving, and more – supporting the wards and the school.
The Hospital Ministry would not be possible without the kind hearts and generosity of the donors / parishioners who share their blessings of time, talent, and treasure. Many of our parishioners who have the resources are willing to help, but do not have the time to go to the hospitals. By donating to the San Antonio Parish, their love is freely delivered to the indigent patients.
In 2014, we disbursed PhP3M to 464 patients covering the 3 hospitals. Almost all patients were discharged in PGH and RMC, with a mortality of 15 and 4 respectively for the 2 hospitals.
Testimonial –
Cheyceljoy E. Calosor
Hospital Ministry Beneficiary since 2005
JPIC Scholar
3rd year College
BS Social Work
Phil. Christian University
Ako po si Cheyceljoy E. Calosor, 20 years old na nakatira sa probinsya ng Mindoro. Ang aking ama ay isang mangingisda at ang aking ina naman po ay isang maybahay lamang. Tatlo po kaming magkakapatid. Noong ako ay nasa ikalimang baitang noong September 21, 2005, nawalan po ako ng paningin at nag-seizure sa hindi malamang kadahilanan. Pinatignan ako sa doctor sa aming probinsya at sinabi hindi na daw ako aabutin ng umaga. The doctor diagnosed that I have brain cancer stage 4. Sa Manila, nakarating kami sa PCMC hospital. In God’s Grace, tinanggap ako sa hospital dahil sa taas ng blood pressure ko sa kadahilanan na ever since, wala pa silang naging pasyenteng bata na may mataas na blood pleasure sa edad na 10-taong gulang. 3 months akong na-admit sa hospital na ito. Lahat ng baon naming pera na inutang sa mga kapitbahay ay naubos sa mga laboratory tests na isinagawa sa akin at napagtanto na ako ay may sakit na Takayasu’s Artiritis. Napag-usapan ng aking mga doctor na ilipat ako sa PGH kung saan maraming magagaling na doctor at mas kumpleto ang mga kagamitan.
Sa PGH lahat nagbago ang pananaw ko sa buhay. May isang doctor na nanghihinayang sa pag-aaral ko kaya pinasok nya ako sa PGH Silahis ng Kalusugan School for the Chronically Ill (SNK) upang mapagpatuloy ang aking pag aaral.
Nakilala din namin ang Hospital Ministry na tumutulong sa mga naka-admit sa PGH wards. Nabigyan po ako ng antibiotic for infection at lalo na po ang prednisone. Natulungan po nila ako sa mga gamot na pangangailangan ko agad. Hindi na po kami maghihintay ng kung kailan mare-release yung gamot na hinihingi namin sa guarantee letter na matagal, lalo na pag may laboratory tests na pinapagawa ang aking mga doctor at wala kaming pera. Natutulungan po nila kami, sa pamumuno dati ni Sir Steve Lopez, at ngayon po ay ni Ma’am Sabrina Soriano. At sa iba pang mga tao na tumutulong sa programang ito, kagaya ni Sir Vincente Pacheco at ng mga SYAers.
Hindi lang pagpapagamot ang naitulong sa akin ng Hospital Ministry ng Santuario De San Antonio Parish.
Sa kasalukuyan po ay nasa 3rd year college na ako kumukuha ng kursong BS-Social Work sa Philippine Christian University sa tulong ng Santuario De San Antonio Parish JPIC scholarship program. Taos puso po akong nagpapasalamat sa kanilang pagbibigay inspirasyon sa buhay at sa paggabay nila sa akin nung ako ay nasa secondary level pa lamang, hindi lang sa pag-aaral pati na din sa pagpapagamot ng aking sakit.
Nais ko balang araw ay makatulong ako kagaya ng mga butihing mga taong ito na walang sawang naglilingkod sa mga may sakit.
At para sa may mga sakit never give up, there is no such thing as an ending, just a new beginning to start again.
Santuario de San Antonio Parish 